Old Baigie Tunnel Introduction
To conduct the improvement project of the Old Baijil Tunnel and its surrounding environment, the north entrance area of the Old Baijil (pedestrian) tunnel (including the restroom and the path from the restroom to the Governor's Office Trail) and the south entrance area of the tunnel will be closed for construction starting from April 21, 2025. For more details, please refer to the link: https://www.scenic.tycg.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=9476&s=1558831. Are you preparing to head to the Baijil Tunnel? Then you must clarify whether it's the new tunnel or the old tunnel! On Provincial Highway 7, which connects Cihu and Fuksing, both tunnels currently coexist; the New Baijil Tunnel is used as a two-way vehicle lane, while the old tunnel has been transformed into a recreational pathway. The two tunnels silently witness the historical changes of Baijil over half a century. To understand the origin of the Baijil Tunnel, one must mention the strategic location of the Baijil area, formerly known as Bajie, which was a vital route between Daxi and Jiao Band Mountain in early times. In 1944, the Japanese built a tunnel here for pedestrian use, air defense, and evacuation purposes, also serving as a strategic base during the Jiao Band Mountain operations. The tunnel was interrupted by landslides in 1957 and was not reopened until eight years later, becoming today’s Old Baijil Tunnel. It is approximately 343 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, with the southern entrance featuring a plaque inscribed by then Provincial Governor Huang Jie stating “Baijil Tunnel, Northern Section Crossroad”. Due to highway requirements, the dual-lane New Baijil Tunnel was then built. The restored Old Baijil Tunnel differs from the past in that it is now a reinforced concrete structure and can accommodate vehicles, but it was limited to one-way traffic at the time, requiring military police to manage traffic at the tunnel entrance, a nostalgic scene for many. The New Baijil Tunnel opened in 1993, officially ending the Old Tunnel's transportation function. Having undergone two closures, the Old Baijil Tunnel was converted into a sightseeing path in 2007. Inside, visitors can see the lightweight rail system installed during the Japanese colonial period, along with "trolley cars" (also known as "hand-pushed carts") that could carry both people and goods and were manually controlled for speed. Today, the scenes of porters sweating as they transport goods are no longer seen; instead, tourists sit on the trolleys to take pictures and experience the ambiance of bygone eras. The Old Tunnel connects to the Governor's Office Trail, Baijil Shady Path, and other ancient trails, making it a great supplementary attraction.
